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Francisco Xavier Castellanos Insuasti
I am Master of Science in Biology student at the Ray Lab. My research focuses on the characterization and use of a particular type of Transposable Element to be used in phylogenetic hypotheses across the Chiropteran (bat) clade. I am also fascinated by bat immunity, specifically the innate immune response.
Education
MS Student, Biology
Texas Tech University. The Ray Laboratory.
Lubbock, USA
Present - 2021
B.S. Genetics
Laboratorio de Genètica Evolutiva,
Universidad Nacional de Misiones
Posadas, Argentina
2020
- Thesis: Cytogenetic and molecular studies in some species of the Genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Myotinae) in Northern Argentina.
Research Experience
Collaborator
The Ray Laboratory, Texas Tech University
Lubbock, USA
Present - 2021
- RAPID: Immunological adaptations in bats to moderate the effect of coronavirus infection.
- RoL: FELS: EAGER: Collaborative Research: Genomics of exceptions to scaling of longevity to body size.
Research Assistant
Andean Bear Foundation
Quito, Ecuador
Present - 2015
- Large Mammals Project in Parque Nacional Cayambe Coca, Zona Alta.
Associated Researcher
Quito, Ecuador
Present - 2020
- I lead projects that seek to study the behavior of large mammals by means of analyzing tracking data.
- I am looking to understand how large mammals make use of their natural habitat and what variables impact on how they move across their home ranges.
Professional Experience
Thesis Evaluating Committee
Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas
Bogotá, Colombia
2021
- Thesis: “Biological knowledge status of the subfamily Stenodermatinae (Gervais, 1856): a cytogenetic revision within an evolutionary framework”
Field Assistant
Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Universidad Nacional de Misiones
Posadas, Argentina
2018 - 2015
- Primarily working with large EHR and Biobank datasets.
- Developing network-based methods to investigate and visualize clinically relevant patterns in data.
Teaching Experience
Introduction to Telemetry and Ecology of Large Mammals
Andean Bear Foundation
Online
Present
- Covered introduction to R language and basic Stats
- Medium leve
BIOL 1403 (BIOL I)
Department of Biological Sciences,
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, USA
Fall 2021 & 2022
- Laboratory TA
BIOL 1403 (BIOL II)
Department of Biological Sciences,
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, USA
Spring 2022
- Laboratory TA
- Graduate level class
BIOL 3416 (Genetics)
Department of Biological Sciences,
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, USA
Summer 2022
- Laboratory TA
- Topics covered from Mendelian genetics, Morgan’s experiments
- Highest level course offered in department
Selected Press (About)
Estudio reporta patrones de movimiento y estimaciones de rango de hogar del zorro andino
N/A
2021
Publications
A pilot study on the home range and movement patterns of the Andean Fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador.
Castellanos, A., Castellanos, F. X., Kays, R. and Brito, J. (2021). A pilot study on the home range and movement patterns of the Andean Fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador. Mammalia 86(1), 22-26. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2020-0195
N/A
2021
Tapirus pinchaque in Western Ecuador
Castellanos, A., Brito, J. and Castellanos, F. X.. (2020). Tapirus pinchaque in Western Ecuador. Museum of Zoologic Research IASA, Technical Bulletin, Zoologic Series 16:1-4.
N/A
2020
Glyphonycteris, O. Thomas, 1896 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Glyphonycterinae), a new genus of bats for Argentina, with commentary on its karyotype.
Sánchez, M.S., Labaroni C.A., Castellanos, F. X. and Baldo, D.J. Glyphonycteris, O. Thomas, 1896 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Glyphonycterinae), a new genus of bats for Argentina, with commentary on its karyotype. Mastozoología Neotropical, 26(2):420-429. https://doi.org/10.31687/saremMN.19.26.2.0.12
N/A
2019
Panthera onca
Castellanos, A., Castellanos, F. X., and Vallejo, A.F. 2019. Panthera onca In: Brito, J., Camacho, M. A., Romero, V. Vallejo, A. F. (eds). Mamíferos del Ecuador. Version 2018.0. Zoology Museum, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Online access: https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/mammaliaweb/FichaEspecie/Panthera%20onca
N/A
2019
Conference Presentations
deAMPlifying the Immune Response: Antimicrobial Peptides Evolution in Chiroptera
Castellanos, F. X., Moreno-Santillán, D., Corthals, A., Martin, K., Moore, M.S.,
Lim, M., Lama, T.M., Paulat, N.,
Sipperly, N., Davalos, L.M., Ray, D.A.
19th IBCR - 50th NASBR.
Austin, USA
August 2022
Chromosomal studies in some species of the genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Northern Argentina.
Castellanos, F. X., Labaroni C.A., Ferro, J.M., Taffarel, A., Baldo, D.J,
and Sánchez, M.S. XXXI Argentine Conference of Mastozoology.
La Rioja, Argentina
October 2018
Awards
Science and Technology Scholarship
Laboratorio de Genètica Evolutiva, Universidad Nacional de Misiones
Posadas, Argentina
2019
Study Abroad Competitive Scholarship
The Ray Laboratory, Texas Tech University
Lubbock, USA
Fall 2022
General Fellowships for New and Continuing Graduate Students
The Ray Laboratory, Texas Tech University
Lubbock, USA
Summer 2022